News Release

17th October 2006

STAFFORDSHIRE AMBULANCE FIRST RESPONDERS DOWNGRADED

Following the recent removal of ResQPOD heart attack recovery equipment from Staffordshire Ambulances, the newly established 'Partnership Board' between the Staffordshire Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service has now made the decision to withdraw 10 of the 13 medicines previously available to Ambulance First Responders in Staffordshire.

Michael Fabricant says: "The 13 medicines are used by First Responders in life saving situations. In villages like Whittington in my constituency, and throughout rural Staffordshire, First Responders are just that - they will usually get to a heart attack or stroke victim in those crucial first minutes before a conventional Ambulance and paramedic team arrives. I am shocked that the latest manifestation of Government policy to merge the Ambulance services has been to reduce the number of drugs available from 13 to 3. There is no evidence that those 13 drugs have harmed patients, only benefited them. I am concerned that many First Responders will now be demoralised and leave the service.

"All this goes in the face of promises made by Tony Blair to Staffordshire Labour MPs that the Partnership between the Staffordshire Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service would raise standards of medical care in Staffordshire. Instead, it is becoming increasingly clear that this merger is damaging our Staffordshire Ambulance Service.